WAIS Canoeing Athletes Start Summer Season in Style

Published On: 22 October 2008

Olympic Champion: Ken Wallace

Last weekend signaled the start of the canoeing summer racing season at Champion Lakes Regatta Centre with athletes competing in the non Olympic 200m, 2000m and 3000m disciplines.

WAIS athlete Reece Baker kicked off his season in style by comfortably winning both the 2000m and 3000m events. In the women’s events, WAIS’ Jenni Bateman showed superb endurance to comfortably win both of the 2000m races. In the 200m event fellow WAIS athlete Alana Nicholls unleashed her explosive power to record a dominant victory over the field.

In a coup for WA canoeing, Olympic Gold and Bronze Medallist Ken Wallace was in town over the weekend to take a coaching clinic and compete in the prestigious Classic Paddle from Perth to Fremantle over 14km.

The coaching clinic organised by Canoe WA was attended by about 40 junior paddlers who were given some valuable tips as well as being inspired by the Olympic Champion. Reece Baker and his WAIS training partner Jesse Phillips also provided valuable input on the day.

Ideal tailwind conditions with an outgoing current greeted 600 paddlers who competed in the Classic Paddle on Sunday. From an early stage it became apparent the race was going to be between Reece Baker, WAIS’ Michael Baker and Olympic Champion, Ken Wallace.

By the time the leaders reached the portage at Point Walter the Baker boys had broken away from the Olympic Champion by about 50 metres, however a slight error of judgement by Michael Baker saw him and Reece Bakercome into the portage at the wrong point. Some frantic shouting by WAIS Head Coach Ramon Andersson directed them to the correct get out point.

The minor mix up worked to Michael Baker’s advantage allowing him to break away on his own while Wallace caught Reece Baker. Wallace and Reece Baker did catch Michael Baker again about 3km from home but Michael Baker would not be denied and was again able to break away to win the race in a near record time from Wallace with Reece Baker in third.

Head Coach Andersson said, “It was great to see Michael paddle this well today. I know he was disappointed with his performance at National Squad selection trials a couple of weeks ago and it was great to see him bounce back.”